What to do in a bicycle accident?

Gavin

Yo !

Sorting out a wiki for the cycling forum with frequently asked questions.
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Category:Cycling

A common one is what to do when in a crash.

I figure yee guys would know !

e.g. Should one always call the Gardai when in a bicycle crash ? Only if it's a bad one, property/person damaged ?

I'm sure it's mostly common sense, if your hurt, call an ambulance etc. If the driver of the car refuses to acknowledge any responsibility, call the Gardai etc. Anything else..?

Gav

Eru

Verb wrote: »

Yo !

Sorting out a wiki for the cycling forum with frequently asked questions.
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Category:Cycling

A common one is what to do when in a crash.

I figure yee guys would know !

e.g. Should one always call the Gardai when in a bicycle crash ? Only if it's a bad one, property/person damaged ?

I'm sure it's mostly common sense, if your hurt, call an ambulance etc. If the driver of the car refuses to acknowledge any responsibility, call the Gardai etc. Anything else..?

Gav

Would have to check on this one but Im pretty sure, not positive that its the same as a 2 car crash minus the bikes license, etc

Its definitaly a good idea to have a garda witness for both sides in the event of any type of claim and then one party may have commited a blatant road traffic law violation and civil courts will ask about criminal investigations.

sickpuppy32

do the garda really put any effort into investigating bicycle accidents though?
i'm saying this cause my step brother got knocked off his bike in blanch a few years ago, was in a coma for a few weeks but i went up to the station was was told " sure when he wakes up he can call over and report it and we'll look into it" . I ended up doing the detective work myself and even got a video tape of the van ploughing into my from a local factory security camera (i sweet talked the security guard), I handed that in and still nothing, when my bro did get out of hospital and got to the garda station, their excuse was he had mummbled something like " i fell off my bike" to the EMT who told the garda and this of course was proof that no crime had been committed so they hadn't investigated it ( and they had "lost" the tape as well. We ended up getting a private dectective who managed to trace the van reg ( i'd taken it off the tape) and find the owner who immediately confessed. Still no investigation from garda but at least we won the civil case. that accident wrecked my bros life, it gave him mental problems and he's only now getting his life together and the cops did nothing. I must say the whole incident really ruined my image of the garda.

keen

sickpuppy32 wrote: »

do the garda really put any effort into investigating bicycle accidents though?
i'm saying this cause my step brother got knocked off his bike in blanch a few years ago, was in a coma for a few weeks but i went up to the station was was told " sure when he wakes up he can call over and report it and we'll look into it" . I ended up doing the detective work myself and even got a video tape of the van ploughing into my from a local factory security camera (i sweet talked the security guard), I handed that in and still nothing, when my bro did get out of hospital and got to the garda station, their excuse was he had mummbled something like " i fell off my bike" to the EMT who told the garda and this of course was proof that no crime had been committed so they hadn't investigated it ( and they had "lost" the tape as well. We ended up getting a private dectective who managed to trace the van reg ( i'd taken it off the tape) and find the owner who immediately confessed. Still no investigation from garda but at least we won the civil case. that accident wrecked my bros life, it gave him mental problems and he's only now getting his life together and the cops did nothing. I must say the whole incident really ruined my image of the garda.

Jaysus, that's pretty rough. fair play to the PI.

UrbanFox

When out on my bike I always carry a small notebook and pencil that I keep in a pocket of my backpack.

You can be shocked and distracted in an accident even if you are only a witness. Your evidence can subsequently be shredded on it's credibility. However, if you wrote things down contemperaneously that can make quite a difference especially registration number, vehicle desription and a description of the driver. Most people would do well to get that lot down but if you go out prepared you can do it.

If a cyclist has caused an accident that is a different problem as they don't have to have insurance and all the rest and they may be prone to trying to make a quick escape if they can. If you are a motorist and a cyclist has contributed to causing an accident that has injured a third party you may well get stuck with the full liability if you cannot identify the culpable cyclist who has just done a bunk !

Victor

I understand it is mandatory to report any traffic incident that results in any injury.

If you don't have pen and paper put the other driver's details on your phone. If its a hit and run. Dial their registration into your phone and dial it or save it (no it won't phone them ) like this

Registration 00-D-193655
Dial 003193655 where 3 corresponds with DEF on your phone.

Gavin

Victor wrote: »

I understand it is mandatory to report any traffic incident that results in any injury.

If you don't have pen and paper put the other driver's details on your phone. If its a hit and run. Dial their registration into your phone and dial it or save it (no it won't phone them ) like this

Registration 00-D-193655
Dial 003193655 where 3 corresponds with DEF on your phone.

The audio record or dictate option on a phone could be handy for this too.

Eru

sickpuppy32 wrote: »

do the garda really put any effort into investigating bicycle accidents though?
i'm saying this cause my step brother got knocked off his bike in blanch a few years ago, was in a coma for a few weeks but i went up to the station was was told " sure when he wakes up he can call over and report it and we'll look into it" . I ended up doing the detective work myself and even got a video tape of the van ploughing into my from a local factory security camera (i sweet talked the security guard), I handed that in and still nothing, when my bro did get out of hospital and got to the garda station, their excuse was he had mummbled something like " i fell off my bike" to the EMT who told the garda and this of course was proof that no crime had been committed so they hadn't investigated it ( and they had "lost" the tape as well. We ended up getting a private dectective who managed to trace the van reg ( i'd taken it off the tape) and find the owner who immediately confessed. Still no investigation from garda but at least we won the civil case. that accident wrecked my bros life, it gave him mental problems and he's only now getting his life together and the cops did nothing. I must say the whole incident really ruined my image of the garda.

Gardai couldnt investigate, you illegally obtained and tampered with the CCTV evidence. Had an PI harass (and thats what it is) a private citizen who evidently obtained the car owners details through questionable methods as the information is confidential not too mention how this person 'confessed' when neither you nor a PI should be approaching a suspect of a possible crime. You destroyed any chance of an investigation. Any defence solicitor would have had the case struck out within 5 minutes.

You cant report an incident you werent involved in if there is an IP capable of making a report. Being in a coma would therefore fall to the next of kin not you such as parents, wife or children.

Initial comments made to DFB or emergency services are very important and will certainly be used by any decent defence solicitor. In fact, if your dying Gardai can give evidence in court based on your 'dying declaration'. Its powerful evidence.

Furthermore, Gardai cant release information concerning a complaint as its confidential and I think you will find had the Gardai investigated you would almost certainly be facing charges yourself.

On the plus side Im glad the driver was caught and I hope your brothers OK now.

keen

edit